Signal for vehicles



1 Li A% L TIC H E wv on L0 Err NI.

' Feb. 13, 1923.

FILED'MAR. 31.1921.

Patented Feb, 13, 1923.,

T t S CHARLES S. EELSON AND MAURICE EDKVABD SCANNELL, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SIGNAL roa VEHICLES.

Application filed March 31, 1921. Serial No. 457,463.

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, CHARLES S. NELSON and MAURICE EDWARD SCANNELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Omaha-,in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful 1m provements in Signals for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle signals, and particularly to that type adapted to be mounted upon a motor vehicle for operation by the driver to indicate proposed directions in which it is desired to drive the vehicle.

An object of the presentinvention is to provide a relatively simple and economically constructed signal which is pos t ve in tiongvhich is easy and'economical to install,

and which is strong and durable and cannot easily get out oforder.

Another object of the invention isto pro vide a signal of this type Which is adapted to be extended and withdrawn from a casing, and which, whenextended, is capable of automatically expanding or spreading to give a visual indication of considerable di- .mension so that it may be easily and quickly observed, and a signal \vhicli, during expansion, will attract attention by apecnliar unfolding movement. Y I

Another object oi -the present invention is to provide a signal having movable parts so arranged that access may be readily had. thereto for operating the same and which 1S7 provided with tensioning means to prevent the vibration and rattling of movable parts, and which also .determinesthe limit of the movement of extension of the parts.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinai ter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols re ter to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. l is a vertical section taken'through a signal apparatus constructed according to the present invention and shown as mounted upon the forward end of a motor vehicle above thewindshield;

Fig; 9 is a detail side elevation of one of he visual indicators in open or spread posiion;

Rig. 3 is adetail side elevationot one of the bushings or fittings used at the end of the signal easing;

one of the handles employed;

Fig. (3 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line 6 6 through Fig.1; 7

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary inner end view of the folding sections or leaves of the indicat- 111g member in closed position.

Figure 8 is a sectionthroug h the sliding member, showing the inner beveled ends of the signal leaves in closed position.

Referring to the drawing, 1Q designates the bows of an automobile top at the forward end thereof and which are attached in. any well known manner to the upper ends of the windshield 12. Fittedlbetween the bows 10 of the top is a tubular casing 13, the ends oi which are adapted to abut against the inner oppositesides of the bows 10 and to re ister with suitable openings formed throng the bows 10 for alinenient with the interior of the casing 13.

l ittings or bushings 1a in the form of tubes are inserted in the openings of the bows it) from the outer sides thereof and are adapted to slidably and snugly fit in the eX- treniities oi" the casing 13 for retainingthe same in position between the bows. The outer ends of the bushings 14 are fiared'as at 15 to form bell shaped mouths for a purpose which will hereinafter appear; Clamps 16 encircle the opposite end portions or the casing 13 and are in sheetmetal form with outturned ears 17 on their free ends ar-. ranged in" spaced relation for receiving therethrough a clampingbolt 18 adapted to draw the cars 17 of'eachclainp together for binding the clamp 16 upon the casing 13 and for contracting the latter upon the adjacent bushing 14.

To prevent the partsfrom turning one of the ears 17 ot the clamp may be provided with a spur 19 which faces the inner side of the adjacent bow 10and whichis adapted to be driven into the 7 same for holding the clamps 16 from turning. The bushings let maybe inserted to various distances in the casing 13 dependent upon the thicknesses of the bows 10.for accommodating the device to vehicle tops of different constructions.

Slidably arranged in the end of the easing is a shiftable member 20 in the present instance in the form ota tube and the tube is recessed in one side and at its inner end to receive therein an L-shaped handle 21 with one end lying in the tube 20 and the other end. projecting laterally therefrom. The outwardly extending end of the handle 21 is provided with aring or hand-hold 22 adapted for convenient grasp by the operator for shifting the tube 20.

The casing 13 is provided with a slot 23 through which the handle 21 projects and which is of sufiicient length to permit the shifting of. the tube 20 into its open and closed positions. As shown in Fig. 1, it may be desirable to have the slot 23 formed in the under side of the casing 13 at one end and having the corresponding slot 23 formed in the inner side of the casing 13 and at its other end so that the handles 21 may be arranged at angles relatively to each other to distinguish theright handle from theleft handle.

On the inner end of each tube 20 is mounted a spring 2 1 secured at one end by rivets 25 or the like to the side of the tube 20 and which at its other end is urged outwardly against the inner sideof the casing 13 to tension the tube 20 in the casing and prevent rattling thereof and also to frictionally hold the tube 20 in position when shifted. The free end of the spring 2e is adapted to ride against the inner side of the casing 13 and to engage the inner extremity of the bush ing 141 when the member 20 is projected to determine the outward movement of the member 20 relatively to the outer end of the bushing 14.

Each member 20 is'reduced at its outer end and bent into substantially channel form with the open side extending downwardly. Within the channel end of the member 20 is pivoted a'plurality of leaves or strips 26 in the form of flat elongated strips arranged in superposed relation upon a pivot pin 27 and adapted to swing downwardly thereon by gravity into different positions dependent upon the beveling of the inner ends of the strips 26, as at 28.

The first or topmost strip 26 is provided with an inner right angular corner which holds thetop strip from swinging on the pivot 27 and thus the top strip is held in horizontal line with the tube 20. The second strip 26 has its inner corner beveled to a slight degree so that the second strip, when released from the bushing 14, is permitted to swing down to a limited extent, and such extent being equal substantially to the width of the strip. Each successive strip is correspondingly beveled to a greater extent so that when the strips are released the swing down to their various consecutive positions into fan shape to thus provide a relatively wide visual signal. The dropping of these strips 26 into their respective positions also provides a means of attracting the eye to the signal so that attention ofthe same may be readily observed.

In use, when the vehicle is going forward the signals are adapted to be retracted such as shown at the right hand end of Fig. 1, and wherein the expansible signalling device is contained within the bushing 14 and is thus held collapsed therein. hen, however, it is desired to signal, the operator grasps the handle 22 and moves the same toward the outer side of the vehicle, as shown at the left hand end of Fig. 1 and wherein the tube 20 is projected and the signal device is advanced out of the casing. When in such position the leaves or strips 26 drop by gravity into their various positions and a relatively broad display is made. These strips 26 may be colored red or otherwisein order to attract attention and give the desired signal; Nhen the tube 20 is re tracted the strips26 consecutively engage the bell mouth 15 of the bushing 14 and are raised into closed position as the signal is ficient size to receive the bushings .1 1. The

handles 21 may of course be adjusted to the desired angle for easy access by the opera tor by turning the tube 13 into the desired position before the clamps 16 are tightened. The clamps 16 firmly hold the casing from turning after adjusted as the spurs 19 are embedded in the inner sides of the bows 10.

We do not wish to be restricted to the size, form, and proportions of the various parts, and obviously changes could be made in the construction herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention, it being only necessary that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

"What is claimed is l 1. In a signal device, a casing, an arm slidable in the end of the casing and adapted to be projected from the same, said arm having an inverted channel formation at its outer end providing depending spaced flanges, and a plurality of leaves hinged at one end together between said flanges and having their inner ends beveled to various degrees increasing consecutively from flange to flange, saidleaves being adapted to fall by gravity at their outer ends when the arm is projected and to engage said abutment wall at their inner ends to support the leaves in fan-spread relation.

2. In. a signal device, a tubular casing adapted to be placed between the side bows of a vehicle top at thefront thereof, a pair of bushings fitted in the ends of the casing and adapted to extend-through said side bows to supportthe casing, compressible collars surrounding the ends of the casing and adapted to be contracted for binding the ends of the casing on the bushings when the latter are adjusted, said collars having spurs "thereon adapted to bite into the adjacent side bows and maintain the collars and easing from turning, arms slidable in the opposite ends of the casing and in the bushings and having handles at their inner ends projecting through the casing, and a signal member carried by each arm, each signal member comprising a plurality of leaves pivoted together at one end upon the adjacent arm, said leaves having their inner ends beveled to various degrees increasing consecutively from side to side of the signal member and the arm having a Hat contacting :Eaee against which said beveled ends of the leaves are adapted to engage for maintaining the leaves in fan-spread relation when the arm is extended from the casing. In testimony whereof, we affix our signa tures in presence or" two witnesses.

CHARLES S. NELSON. MAUREQE EDWARD SCANNELL. lVitnesses E. W. MORRIS,

HIRAM v A. STUReEs. 

